From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, searchFor the Paramount Comedy and Channel 4 series, see Armstrong and Miller (TV series).
The Armstrong and Miller Show
Series title cardFormat Sketch comedy Starring Alexander Armstrong
Ben MillerCountry of origin United Kingdom Language(s) English No. of series 3 No. of episodes 19 Production Running time 30 minutes Production company(s) Hat Trick Productions Broadcast Original channel BBC One Original run 26 October 2007 – present Chronology Preceded by Armstrong and Miller External links Official website The Armstrong and Miller Show is a British sketch comedy television show produced by Hat Trick Productions for BBC One. It features the double act Armstrong and Miller and a number of notable scriptwriters including Andy Hamilton and The League of Gentlemen's Jeremy Dyson.
The series followed four series of Armstrong and Miller on the Paramount Comedy Channel and Channel 4 between 1997 and 2001.
Contents
[edit] Some recurring characters and jokes
- Two World War II airmen who speak in posh, or cut-glass, Home counties accents but have the language and attitudes of chav stereotypes, using colloquial terms such as "blad" and arbitrarily saying terms such as "like" and "and shit".
- Brabbins and Fyffe, a pair of Flanders and Swann-like musicians who sing bawdy songs, sometimes hastily censored by the BBC.
- An insensitive but caring father (played by Armstrong) with the inability to sugar-coat difficult issues for his son (played by Tyger Drew-Honey).
- Roger (played by Miller) who continually returns home early, oblivious to clues that his wife and best friend are having an affair. He accepts the increasingly ludicrous explanations.
- Two Neanderthals who negotiate their way anachronistically through modern social difficulties such as job interviews and baby naming.
- Vox pops in which characters describe their quirks and mental illnesses and end with "so that's why I became a teacher".
- A racist satellite navigation system that advises a driver to avoid certain roads for tabloid-inspired reasons.
- Dennis Lincoln-Park, a TV historian (played by Miller) who accidentally destroys priceless historical treasures.
- A man who accidentally reveals too much information about his strange and disturbing hobbies while in polite company.
- A dentist who recounts sordid tales of tasteless encounters to which his patient, whose mouth is full of dental equipment, is unable to object.
- Parodies of public information films, voiced by Armstrong.
- Various characters (played by Armstrong) including a children's TV presenter with two puppet sidekicks and a marriage counsellor, who after other characters have left the room utters the words "Kill them" into an intercom.
- Jim (played by Miller), on honeymoon in Hawaii alone after his wife left him for the DJ on their wedding day.
- A businessman (played by Armstrong), who is pursued by a team of researchers providing him with apparently useless and random information. He is fired in the final episode of series 2.
- A guy who regularly wanders into a shop to browse, only to be told by the salesman on hand to "fuck off" if he's not buying anything.
- An MI6 agent is trying to do serious work, but his over-caring boss makes light of these situations and forces the agent to partake in fun, children's activities.
- Various suave male characters whose intentions are dashed when the other characters in the sketch notice their hairstyle, with the words "Ugh. Ponytail!", and start vomiting.
- Miranda (played by Armstrong) and Pru (played by Miller) who run the Dandylions vegetarian restaurant, politely trying not to argue in front of the customers, until a customer's comment highlights their difficulties. A brawl is instigated by the proprietors with the words "Pru, it's kicking off!"
- A selection of Regency-era suitors and spinsters whose mid-dance conversational advances are unexpectedly explicit.
- The British Prime Minister (played by Miller), who invariably leaves something vitally important behind after a successful meeting, but is too embarrassed to return and collect it.
- Doctor Tia (played by Armstrong), who "lives in Botswana, saving lives. Do you?". He addresses the camera about his insights into local culture, and the fruits of his work, only for the camera to reveal that he is secretly despised by the people he is trying to help.
- Various characters experiencing extraordinary success, only to reveal to the camera: "I'm wearing my wife's knickers."
- Three children's TV presenters who are publicly humiliated for their inappropriate behaviour, and have to apologise and explain their actions to their audience in child-friendly language.
- A parody of Jeeves and Wooster, with Mr Stafford (played by Armstrong) and his butler Veal (played by Miller). Stafford is a bigot who acts with criminal disregard for others, and then asks for Veal's help sorting out the mess. Veal is horrified.
[edit] Chronology
Series Episodes First aired 1 7 26 October – 14 December 2007 2 6 16 October – 27 November 2009 3 6 2010 [edit] Awards
Visitors to British Comedy Guide voted The Armstrong and Miller Show the "Best Sketch Show of 2007".[1]
"The Armstrong and Miller Show" was nominated for and won the 2010 Bafta award for the Best Comedy Programme.[2]
[edit] Live show
2010 will see a UK tour of The Armstrong and Miller Show, featuring new sketches and favourite characters. Details of tour dates can be found at http://www.mickperrin.com
[edit] References
- ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2007". British Comedy Guide. 2008-01-21. http://www.comedy.co.uk/awards/2007/. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ "2010 BAFTA Awards: round-up". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 7 June 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/06/07/2010-bafta-awards-round-up/. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
[edit] DVD releases
The 1st and the 2nd series have been released on Region 2.
[edit] External links
- The Armstrong and Miller Show at BBC Programmes
- The Armstrong and Miller Show at the Internet Movie Database
- The Armstrong and Miller Show at the British Comedy Guide
- The Armstrong And Miller Show Official Site
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Armstrong_and_Miller_Show"
via en.wikipedia.org
